The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-09-23
THE LAST MAN.
The Troubles That Grew Out of
a Hasty Conclusion.


a Hasty Conclusion.
The light was we'll spent, aad dark.
ness was near, when the enemy's at.
tacks ceased On that part of the Fed
eral line at Chickamauga which was
held by the troops under Thomas, on
the second day Between the left OF
these forces and that remainder of the
army which had not left the field, Law
Il long stretch of forest, etfectually cut
ting off the view between the two
points. just at dusk there was borne
across this forest q sound of rapid mus.
kerry, but this was soon over, and then
followed prolonged cheering. 1t was
clear to those with Thomas that the
cheers came from Confederates, and
signitied a capture of more or less i'm
portance. The incident served, in con-
nection with what followed, to cast a
deeper gloom over the exhausted SOL
diers.
That which followed was an order to
withdraw from the field in retreat to
Chattanooga. The left of Thomas
line rested upon a ridge the end OF
which was covered with standing corn.
At the foot of the ridge, to the left,
was a fence, anu beyond this, the
forest already mentioned. A line of
Federal skermishers was posted along
the fence, and the orders were for
this line to remain until the troops
were well off the ridge in their re.
treat, and then to quietly withdraw
and make the best of their way to re-
join the column. The skirmish line
was composed of single regiment,
and q captain was in command, all the
held officers having fallen in the two
days fighting. The captain, o straight
and soldierly fellow, with bright brown
hair and beard closely cut, was wait
ing with what patience he could COM
mand until his time came to retreat.
1t was an uncertain service at best,
this staying behind in skirmish line
while the army marched away. So
thought the captain, as he moved I'M
easily few PAGES back and forth be-
hind his men. There was something
else to trouble him; he WINGED when
ever he put his left foot to the ground.
The captain had been waiting nearly
half an hour when there came an
ominous sound from the forest in
front. 1t was too dark to see, but
there could be no mistaking that
sound, 1t was the tramp of men COM
ing cautiously on, as a force would do
in the dark, expecting to meet an en-
envy at every step. The captain
thought it yet too early to retire, and
so there was nothing for it but to
await the oneoming force and trust to
fortune. On it came, and presently
the dusky forms of line of skirmish-
ers were seen scarcely thirty PAGES in
front of the Federal line. At the same
instant the Captains men, standing 81
lently in their places, were discovered
by the Others Neither knew GER
t0inly to which army the other be-
longed, The line which came from
the wood halted without command,
hesitating. Then an officer stepped
forward and demanded:
"What troops are thosep"
Not at loss for moment, the Fed
oral Captain responded:
''All right! We're going up the
hill BE ready to support us. Now,
then, men-quietly! Pass the word
along!"
Whatever the doubts of the other,
the captain was sure that the force
confronting him was Confederate. He
was at last relieved of uncertain
he must move now. His men undl =
stood; the command went from man
to man in low tones, and the whole
line of skirmishers quietly turned and
marched up through the corn to the
top of the ridge. As they came to the
open ground at the summit all was still
about and in front of them. Their
comrades were out of hearing in their
retreat. The Captain mounted his
horse-which an orderly had been
holding while the Captain was on foot
with his skirmishers--and put his lit
tie regiment in motion to follow the
army. He himself remained until the
last of his men had filed by, and then
followed AS he did this, he turned
his face as if for last look at the
bloody field. There was nothing there
now but darkness and silence, Perfect
silence, it seemed, thinking of what
lsl been there now less than two
hours before. 1t was perfect silence,
save that two hundred yards down the
ridge to the front, where the enemy
dead and wounded lay thickest, a
sharp cry came up out of the night
now and then, as the hospital corps
lifted a sufferer too roughly or turned
some poor fellow over upon mangled
limb. Save, also, that q rustling noise
in the corn through which he had just
come told the Captain that the enemy /